Thanks

You say that's not the "money cut", but that is exactly what I have always referred to as the "money cut" because its made straight across ankle to ankle and on the belly side of coon by 2" or a little more. Not doing the "money cut" to me is cutting straight to the vent from the ankles IMO. I agree you don't need to cut up to the penis hole on a male coon or similar area on a female.

That's what I thought too Jayme.
He did leave more fur on the carcass than I usually do but the opening cut sure looks like what I have always considered the money cut.

I agree with you ADC that is how I was taught to do the money cut. We used to skin to the vent when I was a kid.

Most animals have a distinct line where the belly fur meets the back fur.That is where you make your cut.Putting belly fur on the back of the pelt wont gain you anything.Plus you cant change the location of the arsehole.

You see some people posting pics or videos of the what they call the money cut all over the place that is not the proper way...

Like this one

First of all thank you I appreciate the videos! I have to agree with ADC that is the money cut but I also see you cut the excess belly fur off, making a bigger window. The only problem I have had is you only have videoes of in the grease. I have sold some of my fur to you just about every year, but for the person that stretches and dries their fur I don't see the benefit selling to you. (just being honest) In the raccoon video you are asking for green pelts well taken care of but you never touched on streaching and drying, if you really care why would you not want totally finished product? Honestly good video I did learn from it mostly about fur quality and primeness I just think that you should have gone a bit further on finishing the pelt. Please don't stop like I said I found it benificial just go a bit further.

It looks like the cut from below the tail to the leg leaves out that diamond section of fur that some fur handling videos recommend you keep. The initial cut he made was the Money cut or at least what I've always called it. Great and informative video. I've been fortunate that my entire time of trapping there has been huge amounts of info and how to out there. I just wish someone would make a fur grading video covering all the common fur bearers. this video did a good job in a very limited time on how size, color, primeness effect grade and what guard hair actually is.

2X. I would like to ask how interested are they in buying put up coon? If they are then we wait for that video as big momma suggest. Or may be they feel they can doa much better job finishing as opposed to the “average” trapper?

Thank you for taking the time to make a very informative video, it is very appreciated.

Some good information on what to look for on the belly side of the coon and also what constitutes the better colors and what determines full or heavy. It would have been good to see a couple run through the fleshing machine.
I am not getting into the money cut discussion. I have always opened up from ankle to ankle passing about 1-2 inches above the anus and opening the tail etc. the same way. I am working on a simplified skinning machine as at 71 pulling them down gets harder.
Lot of discussion about handling the fur when they are partially froze or cold and fresh too. I sell all mine scraped so much of that was new to me. Might be good to try fleshing some coons a bit stiffer if that works for me.

Bryce

Interesting video but I do have a couple of questions.

1. So, a big, dry, 1-2 color, white leather sow is "junk" because its a sow or were they talking about sow that got done lactating late...? I have 2 what I think are beauty put up 4x silver flanked sows that I caught in mid- November. We'll see how they grade for NAFA's first auction.

2. If the "money cut" is so bad, then all the buyers of my hides when those get graded "Sel*" are getting pi**ed off and not buying from NAFA again or only paying for a size smaller instead? I wonder how those 3-4X Sel* lots maintain their value year after year if buyers are getting burned so bad by all of us "money-cutters"...?

Good info. We need more of these kinds of vids/information on here.

I like the contrast between fur between the earlier caught coon and the ones that were caught just a couple weeks later. Some fur it's not so pronounced as the coon. In todays market, it helps us all to hold off a week or 3. Not like we have a ton of competition for coon right now anyhow.

ttt

Wow! Trappers have to be told to clean their pelts, buy a comb, and remove the tail bone.

Some people are self taught, in the purest sense of the term as in they learned by doing and not looking for instructions.

I learned a very valuable bit of information, about 3 minutes in........I need a skinning machine!

I could see the tail bone, I suppose, but you have to be taught not to bring in muddy, matted, or burr covered pelts. Do they look valuable to the trapper/hunter that way?

Assuming, anybody traps/hunts for money of course.

Thank you.